NextDNS Setup Guide for Blocking Ads and Trackers

January 13, 2026

Tired of endless ads, slow pages, and trackers watching your every move? This NextDNS setup guide for blocking ads and trackers gives you everything you need to enjoy a cleaner, faster, and more private internet on every device you own.

NextDNS dashboard showing analytics and blocked ads and trackers

Why Block Ads and Trackers?

Ads do more than annoy you—they slow down websites, eat your data, and drain your battery. Trackers quietly collect information about what you do online and sell it to advertisers.

Blocking them at the DNS level stops most of this before it even reaches your device. The result? Faster loading pages, less data usage, and real privacy.

Understanding DNS and Its Role in Internet Security

Think of DNS as the internet's address book. When you type a website name, DNS translates it into the numeric IP address your device needs to connect.

A secure DNS service like NextDNS can block dangerous domains before you reach them. It acts as your first line of defense against malware, phishing sites, and unwanted content.

What Makes NextDNS Special

NextDNS is a cloud-based DNS resolver that works on every device and network. It blocks ads and trackers using constantly updated blocklists, protects against threats, and encrypts your queries.

I switched to NextDNS a few years ago and immediately noticed cleaner YouTube, no app ads, and much faster browsing—especially on mobile data.

Getting Started: Create Your NextDNS Account

  1. Go to nextdns.io
  2. Click "Try it now" (no credit card needed)
  3. Sign up with your email
  4. Create a new configuration and give it a name (Home, Work, etc.)

You’ll receive a unique Configuration ID (a six-character code). Keep this handy—you’ll need it for setup.

Configuring NextDNS DNS servers on a home router interface

Set Up NextDNS on Your Router (Best for Whole-Home Protection)

The easiest way to protect every device is at the router level.

Steps for most routers:

  1. Log into your router (usually 192.168.1.1 or 192.168.0.1)
  2. Find the DNS settings (often under WAN or Internet settings)
  3. Change from Automatic to Manual
  4. Enter the NextDNS IPv4 addresses with your ID appended:
  5. Primary: 45.90.28.0 (add your ID in My Account > Setup > IPv4)
  6. Secondary: 45.90.30.0
  7. Save and reboot the router

All devices on your network are now protected—no individual setup needed.

Set Up NextDNS on Windows and macOS

Windows

  1. Right-click the network icon > Open Network & Internet settings
  2. Click Change adapter options
  3. Right-click your connection > Properties
  4. Select Internet Protocol Version 4 (TCP/IPv4) > Properties
  5. Choose "Use the following DNS server addresses"
  6. Enter your NextDNS IPv4 addresses
  7. Click OK

macOS

  1. System Settings > Network
  2. Select your connection > Details > DNS
  3. Add your NextDNS addresses
  4. Click OK

Or download the official NextDNS app for automatic management and extra features.

Set Up NextDNS on iPhone and Android

iOS (Best with Configuration Profile)

  1. Open Safari and go to my.nextdns.io/start
  2. Select iOS
  3. Install the configuration profile
  4. Go to Settings > General > VPN & Device Management
  5. Install the NextDNS profile
  6. Enable it in Settings > VPN

This uses encrypted DNS-over-HTTPS (DoH) and works even on cellular.

Android

  1. Settings > Network & internet > Private DNS
  2. Choose Private DNS provider hostname
  3. Enter: your-id.dns.nextdns.io
  4. Save

Or install the NextDNS app from the Play Store for more control.

Installing NextDNS configuration profile on iOS device

Configuring Blocklists for Maximum Protection

After setup, fine-tune what gets blocked:

  1. Log into my.nextdns.io
  2. Go to Privacy tab
  3. Enable Native Tracking Protection
  4. Add popular blocklists:
  5. NextDNS Ads & Trackers
  6. OISD Full
  7. AdGuard DNS Filter
  8. Hagezi Pro
  9. StevenBlack

Start with these—most users find they block 90%+ of ads without breaking sites.

Use the Denylist and Allowlist to fix any over-blocking.

Security Features and DNSSEC

NextDNS automatically validates DNSSEC, ensuring responses haven’t been tampered with. It also blocks phishing, malware, cryptojacking, and newly registered suspicious domains in real time.

In the Security tab, enable all threat intelligence feeds for the strongest protection.

My Experience After Years of Use

I run NextDNS on my router at home and on my phone when I’m out. Ads in apps disappeared, YouTube is clean, and pages load noticeably faster. Battery life on mobile improved too.

Occasional false positives happen (a site breaks), but the allowlist fixes it in seconds. The logs are incredibly useful for seeing what’s being blocked and why.

Troubleshooting Tips

  • If a site doesn’t load: Add it to your allowlist or temporarily disable NextDNS
  • Slow speeds: Try DNS-over-TLS or linked IP mode
  • Check logs at my.nextdns.io to see what’s blocked
  • For maximum privacy: Enable encryption and choose log storage in your region

NextDNS works everywhere—home Wi-Fi, public hotspots, and cellular.

Final Thoughts

Setting up NextDNS is one of the simplest and most effective ways to block ads and trackers across all your devices. You get better privacy, faster browsing, and stronger security with almost no effort.

Give it a try today—you can test it free and see the difference immediately.

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